Business Management degrees are a popular choice for those moving into higher education and with good reason, too. Delving into such a complex and broad discipline can open so many doors when it comes to graduation time. So, what can you do with a business management degree?
The great thing about opting to do a degree in business and management (or similar, e.g. business studies) is the sheer variety involved. Unlike other specialisms that focus on one specific area or skill, most business-focused degree courses give you the chance to learn about different remits within business.
Business management students gain exposure to vital commercial functions and concepts, such as:
Once graduation comes, you already have a head start because you have a solid understanding of multiple disciplines. In addition to this, it’s likely that you will have enjoyed or been stronger in certain modules over others, giving you more of an idea of what you want to do after university.
Business management degrees, in fact, any degree for that matter, will give you a wealth of transferrable skills that employers want! Without even realising, throughout your course you develop and demonstrate research skills, analytical skills, organisation, teamwork, initiative… the list goes on!
These skills are not only fundamentally important for anyone embarking on their career, but it also means that you have the potential to move into a huge variety of careers. Even if you choose to pursue a career that is unrelated to your degree.
Another added bonus of a business management degree is that there is usually an optional (or sometimes mandatory, depending on the university) year in industry. Students will find and spend a year in a work placement or internship within a chosen field, gaining valuable work experience, even before graduation!
Graduates, don’t underestimate the value of your work placement. You’re in an enviable position amongst your peers. Other graduates may not have the same level of commercial experience as you, so make sure it stands out on your CV. Employers love to hire graduates with work experience.
Once you’ve graduated, it can feel like you’ve hit the ground with a thump. What now?
Never fear, for those of you looking to pursue full-time work following the completion of your business management degree, there’s good news. According to a study completed by the Higher Education Careers Service Unit (HECSU) in 2016, 62.5% of graduates in business and management studies were in full-time employment within just 6 months of graduation.
Even with work experience and the wealth of skills gained from uni, the graduate job hunt can take a while. Patience and persistence will pay off massively, but it also helps to make sure that your CV is the best it can be and that you know how to tackle interviews (both face-to-face and video interviews).
As a new graduate, you should carefully consider what kind of company would be best for you and your needs. A large company or a small company? A growing startup? A super-corporation? A business driven by ethics? Everyone is different, but the right employer for you is out there waiting.
Many graduate employers, from all industries, understand the benefits of hiring a business management graduate. As such, you will not be limited for choice.
In fact, we have plenty of fantastic commercial graduate opportunities available right now. Plus, we’ll tell you a secret… Our clients love business graduates! Want to find out more? Take a look at our current vacancies here.
In the same study mentioned previously, HECSU also detailed the type of work employed graduates were doing. Here are the top 3 categories:
However, there are many more fields business graduates can move into, including administration, hospitality and retail. The career options are endless!
With so many graduate jobs available and so many doors open to you, it’s hard to know which career path to choose. However, this is a decision that only you can make. It has to be based on what sort of tasks you enjoy doing, what your long-term goals are, how you like to work and your personality.
If you’re in need of a helping hand, take a look at the job profiles of some of the most popular choices for business graduates.
Don’t be put off by sales jobs! Yes, there are some bad graduate sales jobs out there, so beware. That being said, sales can be a lucrative and rewarding career for the right person. To succeed in sales, you need to be self-motivated, competitive, a natural influencer and target-driven.
It isn’t for everyone due to the pressurised, fast-paced and dynamic nature of the role. Whereas for others, the generous salaries, bonuses and progression opportunities, not to mention the overall thrill of the job, makes a career in sales the perfect choice.
A career in finance can lead to great things, there is real scope to work your way through the ranks into management roles or other business areas. This sort of role is perfect for analytical graduates who enjoy working with numbers and data. Remember, that finance and accounting require a high level of numeracy, great attention to detail and high levels of focus.
Graduates looking to break out in this field may want to consider doing some professional qualifications such as ACCA or CIMA.
Unless you have some pretty impressive work experience, it’s unlikely that you’ll stroll straight into a managerial role after finishing your studies. However, management graduate schemes are a popular choice for driven, ambitious and hardworking graduates.
If you have fantastic leadership skills, you’re great with people and have the confidence and independence to make it as a manager, these schemes are great! They offer you excellent training, allowing you to understand the business and develop the necessary skills for leadership.
Don’t forget that postgraduate study or professional qualifications are also available to you once you finish your degree. This can be a great option for those who want to break out into super-competitive or specialist industries.
What can you do with a business management degree? Perhaps the question should be “what can’t you do?”
While securing a graduate job will require some time and effort on your part, a business management degree will only work to your advantage! Thanks to your degree, you have some great transferable skills, commercial awareness, an understanding of many different parts of a business and perhaps even some valuable work experience. Wow!
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